Portable multi-purpose audience measurement systems, apparatus and methods

ABSTRACT

Portable multi-purpose audience measurement systems, apparatus and methods are disclosed. An example method to monitor a media presentation device disclosed herein comprises sensing a media content signal output by the media presentation device using a portable device separate from the media presentation device, the portable device supporting media metering functionality and native functionality, attempting to detect a code encoded in the sensed media content signal using the portable device, and generating a signature from the sensed media content signal using the portable device when the portable device is electrically coupled to an external power supply or the portable device has at least a threshold amount of local battery power, but not generating the signature when the portable device is not electrically coupled to the external power supply and the portable device does not have at least the threshold amount of local battery power.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/405,067, filed Apr. 17, 2006, which is a continuation ofInternational Application Number PCT/US2004/034251, filed Oct. 15, 2004,which is a continuation-in-part of International Application NumberPCT/US2004/000818, filed Jan. 14, 2004, and which claims the benefit ofU.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/511,859, filed Oct. 17,2003 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/578,196, filedJun. 9, 2004, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference in theirrespective entireties.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates generally to audience measurement, andmore particularly, to portable multi-purpose audience measurementsystems, apparatus and methods.

BACKGROUND

Determining the size and demographics of a television viewing audiencehelps television program producers improve their television programmingand determine a price for advertising during such programming. Inaddition, accurate television viewing demographics allows advertisers totarget certain types and sizes of audiences.

In order to collect these demographics, an audience measurement companymay enlist a plurality of television viewers to cooperate in an audiencemeasurement study for a predefined length of time. The viewing habits ofthese enlisted viewers as well as demographic data about these enlistedviewers is collected and used to statistically determine the size anddemographics of a television viewing audience. In some cases, automaticmeasurement systems may be supplemented with survey information recordedmanually by the viewing audience members.

The process of enlisting and retaining participants for purposes ofaudience measurement can be a difficult and costly aspect of theaudience measurement process. For example, participants must becarefully selected and screened for particular characteristics so thatthe population of participants is representative of the overall viewingpopulation. In addition, the participants must be willing to performspecific tasks that enable the collection of the data and, ideally, theparticipants selected must be diligent about performing these specifictasks so that the audience measurement data accurately reflects theirviewing habits.

For example, audience measurement systems typically require some amountof on-going input from the participating audience member. One method ofcollecting viewer input involves the use of a people meter. A peoplemeter is an electronic device that is typically disposed in the viewingarea and that is proximate to one or more of the viewers. The peoplemeter is adapted to communicate with a television meter disposed in, forexample, a set top box, that measures various signals associated withthe television for a variety of purposes including, but not limited to,determining the operational status of the television, i.e., whether thetelevision is off or on, and identifying the programming being displayedby the television. Based on any number of triggers, including, forexample a channel change or an elapsed period of time, the people meterprompts the household viewers to input information by depressing one ofa set of buttons each of which is assigned to represent a differenthousehold member. For example, the people meter may prompt the viewersto register, i.e., log in, or may prompt the viewers to indicate thatthey are still present in the viewing audience. Although periodicallyinputting information in response to a prompt may not be burdensome whenrequired for an hour, a day or even a week or two, some participantsfind the prompting and data input tasks to be intrusive and annoyingover longer periods of time.

In addition to performing tasks associated with viewing, participantsmust also be willing to have their media systems modified to enablemeasurement of their viewing habits, a requirement that typicallyinvolves allowing field personnel to gain access to their homes.Allowing access to the home is often viewed as intrusive by would-beparticipants and requires the would-be participant to schedule a time toallow such access. The would-be participant may also be unwilling torisk the damage that may occur as a result of allowing field personnelto modify an expensive home media system.

Moreover, there are costs associated with engaging and training fieldpersonnel who not only install such audience measurement systems in thehomes of participants but who also return to the homes on an as-neededbasis to repair the equipment and to remove the equipment when theparticipants are either no longer willing to participate, have movedfrom their homes, or have reached the end of the term for which theyoriginally agreed to participate.

To reduce the costs and resources required to enlist and retainparticipants and to engage and train field support, audience measurementcompanies are researching ways to make participation as convenient aspossible for the participants and to minimize the amount of in-homeinstallation/repair required to support in-home audience measurement.

Another aspect of audience measurement involves attempting to measurenot only viewing that occurs within the home, referred to as in-homeviewing, but also viewing that occurs outside of the home, referred toas out-of-home viewing. In today's world, the average viewer isfrequently exposed to media sources outside the home. Specifically,televisions and display monitors are encountered in places such asairports, shopping centers, retail establishments, restaurants, andbars, to name only a few locations. To measure out-of-home televisionviewing, portable devices have been developed to capture audio codesfrom the audio signals emanating from a television set. These codes arelater transmitted to a central data processing facility which uses thecodes to identify the programming that was viewed and to properly creditthat viewing to the appropriate program. Because such devices areportable, they may be used to measure viewing that occurs both insidethe home and outside the home. Unfortunately, these portable audio codedetection devices have inherent limitations.

Specifically, these portable devices are unable to distinguish betweencodes captured as a result of in-home viewing and codes captured as aresult of out-of-home viewing. Yet there are characteristic differencesbetween in-home television viewing and out-of-home television viewingthat may be of interest to consumers of audience measurement data.Specifically, an in-home viewer often focuses much or all of hisattention on the television program being viewed. In contrast,out-of-home television viewing may involve the focused attention of theviewer or may instead involve a brief glance at a television screen asthe viewer walks past a television located, for example, in an airport.In addition, in-home television viewing is typically performed on aselective basis, i.e., the viewer likely has control over the selectionof programming displayed on the in-home television, whereas out-of-homeviewing is less likely to be performed on a selective basis, i.e., theout-of-home viewer is less likely to have individual control over theselection of the programming being displayed on the out-of-hometelevision.

Thus, audience measurement companies are researching ways to distinguishbetween data associated with in-home television viewing and dataassociated with out-of-home television viewing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram representation of an example televisionsystem.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram representation of an example base meteringdevice.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram representation of an example portable meteringdevice.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram representation of an example identificationtag.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram representation of an example method to collectaudience information associated with a media presentation.

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram representation of another example method tocollect audience information associated with a media presentation.

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram representation of another example method tocollect audience information associated with a media presentation.

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram representation of another example method tocollect audience information associated with a media presentation.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram representation of another example televisionsystem.

FIG. 10 is a flow diagram representation of an alternative set ofmachine readable instructions which may be executed to collect audienceinformation associated with a media presentation.

FIG. 11 is a flow diagram representation of an alternative set ofmachine readable instructions which may be executed to collect audienceinformation associated with a media presentation.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram of a metering system.

FIG. 13 is a flow diagram of an example software download process.

FIGS. 14 through 21 are flow diagrams of example processes to contact apotential panelist, download metering software to a portable device usedby the panelist, and configure the metering software for execution toimplement a portable meter.

FIGS. 22A and 22B form a flow diagram of a portable meter process.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Although the following discloses example systems including, among othercomponents, software executed on hardware, it should be noted that suchsystems are merely illustrative and should not be considered aslimiting. For example, it is contemplated that any or all of thedisclosed hardware and software components could be embodied exclusivelyin dedicated hardware, exclusively in software, exclusively in firmwareor in some combination of hardware, firmware, and/or software.

In addition, while the following disclosure is made with respect toexample television systems, it should be understood that the disclosedsystem is readily applicable to many other media systems. Accordingly,while the following describes example systems and processes, persons ofordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that the disclosedexamples are not the only way to implement such systems.

In the example of FIG. 1, an example television system 10 including atelevision service provider 12, a television 14, and a remote controldevice 16 is metered using an audience measurement system 18 having abase metering device 20, a portable metering device 22, anidentification tag 24, an audience change detector 26, and a peoplemeter 28. The components of the television system 10 may be coupled inany well-known manner, such as that shown in FIG. 1. The television 14is positioned in a viewing area 30 located within a house 32 occupied byone or more people, referred to as household members 34, all of whomhave agreed to participate in an audience measurement research study.The viewing area 30 includes the area in which the television 14 islocated and from which the television 14 may be viewed by one or morehousehold members 34 located in the viewing area 30.

The television service provider 12 may be implemented using anytelevision service provider 12 such as, but not limited to, a cabletelevision service provider 36, a radio frequency (RF) televisionprovider 38, and/or a satellite television service provider 40. Thetelevision 14 receives a plurality of television signals transmitted viaa plurality of channels by the television service provider 12 and may beadapted to process and display television signals provided in any formatsuch as an National Television Standards Committee (NTSC) televisionsignal format, a high definition television (HDTV) signal format, anAdvanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) television signal format, aphase alternation line (PAL) television signal format, a digital videobroadcasting (DVB) television signal format, an Association of RadioIndustries and Businesses (ARIB) television signal format, etc. Theuser-operated remote control device 16 allows a user to cause thetelevision 14 to tune to and receive signals transmitted on a desiredchannel, and to cause the television 14 to process and present theprogramming content contained in the signals transmitted on the desiredchannel. The processing performed by the television 14 may include, forexample, extracting a video component delivered via the received signaland an audio component delivered via the received signal, causing thevideo component to be displayed on a screen/display associated with thetelevision 14, and causing the audio component to be emitted by speakersassociated with the television. The programming content contained in thetelevision signal may include, for example, a television program, amovie, an advertisement, a video game, and/or a preview of otherprogramming that is or will be offered by the television serviceprovider 12 now or in the future.

The base metering device 20 is configured as a primarily stationarydevice disposed on or near the television 14 and may be adapted toperform one or more of a variety of well-known television meteringmethods. Depending on the types of metering that the base meteringdevice 20 is adapted to perform, the base metering device 20 may bephysically coupled to the television 14 or may instead be configured tocapture signals emitted externally by the television 14 such that directphysical coupling to the television 14 is not required. Preferably, abase metering device 20 is provided for each television 14 disposed inthe household 32, such that the base metering devices 20 may be adaptedto capture data regarding all in-home viewing by the household members.In one embodiment, the base metering device 20 may be implemented as alow-cost electronic device that may be shipped to the viewer's home 32(e.g., via regular mail) and easily installed by the viewer by, forexample, plugging the base metering device 20 into a commercial powersupply, i.e., an electrical outlet.

The portable metering device 22 is adapted to perform televisionmetering using well-known audio code capture techniques and/or audiosignature capture techniques. The portable metering device 22 may beadapted to capture code information and signature informationsimultaneously. Alternatively, the portable metering device 22 may beadapted to use the code techniques as a primary metering method and touse the signature metering method as a secondary method, i.e., tosupplement the metering performed using the code technique.Specifically, if one or more audio codes are detected by the portablemetering device 22, then the signature method need not be performed.Conversely, if audio codes are not detected, then the portable meteringdevice 22 may execute one or more well-known methods used to capturesignature information of the programming content displayed on thetelevision 14 for purposes of metering viewing. The portable meteringdevice 22 may be adapted to capture and process codes that are embeddedin the programming content using an encoding technique such as thatdisclosed in pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/543,480.Preferably, a different portable metering device 22 is assigned to eachhousehold member 34 residing in the home 32 and each household member 34carries the appropriate portable metering device 22 at all times.

Referring still to FIG. 1, the base metering device 20 and the portablemetering device 22 may be adapted to communicate with a remotely locatedcentral data collection facility 42 via a network 44. The network 44 maybe implemented using any type of public or private network such as, butnot limited to, the Internet, a telephone network, a local area network(LAN), a cable network, and/or a wireless network. To enablecommunication via the network 44, the base metering device 20 mayinclude a communication interface that enables connection to anEthernet, a digital subscriber line (DSL), a telephone line, a coaxialcable, or any wireless connection, etc. Likewise, the portable meteringdevice 22 may include such an interface to enable communication by theportable metering device 22 via the network 44. As will be appreciatedby persons of ordinary skill in the art, either or both of the basemetering device 20 and the portable metering device 22 may be adapted tosend viewing data to the central data collection facility 42. In theevent that only one of the base metering device 20 and the portablemetering device 22 is capable of transmitting data to the central datacollection facility 42, the base and portable metering devices 20, 22may be adapted to communicate data to each other so that there is ameans by which data collected from all metering devices (i.e., the basemetering device 20 and/or the portable metering device 22) can betransmitted to the central data collection facility 42. The central datacollection facility 42 may include a server 46 and a database 48.Further, the central data collection facility 42 may be adapted toprocess and store data received from the base metering device 20 and/orthe portable metering device 22.

The portable metering device 22 may also communicate via the network 44using a docking station (not shown) having a cradle in which theportable metering device 22 may be deposited in order to enable transferof data via the network 44 and to enable a battery (not shown) disposedin the portable metering device 22 to be recharged. The docking stationmay be operatively coupled to the network 44 via, for example, anEthernet connection, a digital subscriber line (DSL), a telephone line,a coaxial cable, etc.

In the illustrated example, the portable metering device 22 is aportable electronic device such as, but not limited to, a portabletelephone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), and/or a handheldcomputer. Because of its portability, the portable metering device 22may be used to meter viewing that occurs at home, at the office, and/orany other location. For example, the portable metering device 22 may beconfigured to detect a movie and/or a movie preview at a movie theater.Of course, the portable metering device 22 also includes a battery (notshown) for powering the electronic circuitry disposed therein.

A portable telephone 22 used to implement the portable metering device22 may be configured to operate in accordance with any wirelesscommunication protocol such as, but not limited to, a code divisionmultiple access (CDMA) based communication protocol, a time divisionmultiple access (TDMA) based communication protocol, a global system formobile communication (GSM) based communication protocol, a generalpacket radio services (GPRS) based communication protocol, an enhanceddata GSM environment (EDGE) based communication protocol, a universalmobile telephone service (UMTS) based communication protocol or anyother suitable wireless communication protocol. As will be appreciatedby persons of ordinary skill in the art, the communication capabilitiesof the portable telephone may be used to enable communication of datafrom the portable metering device 22 to the central data collectionfacility 42 via the network 44. Using a portable telephone to implementthe portable metering device 22 may allow the household member 34 tomeet the research compliance requirements more easily and moreconveniently. Specifically, the household member 34 may already carry aportable telephone on a regular basis such that carrying a portablemetering device 22 implemented using a cellular telephone does not placeany additional duties upon the household member 34 that the householdmember 34 does not already perform.

A PDA or a handheld computer used to implement the portable meteringdevice 22 may be configured to communicate with an access point (notshown) in accordance with a short-range wireless communication protocolsuch as, but not limited to, a Bluetooth based communication protocol, acommunication protocol that conforms to any of the Institute ofElectrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) standards 802.11a, 802.11b,or 802.11g, or any other suitable short-range wireless communicationprotocol. In turn, the access point may be operatively coupled to thenetwork 44 via, for example, an Ethernet connection, a digitalsubscriber line (DSL), a telephone line, a coaxial cable, a wirelesstelephone connection, etc. To ensure that the PDA can detect audiocodes, the PDA preferably includes a microphone having automatic gaincontrol as do a number of PDAs currently available on the market.

The audience measurement system 18 may be configured so that the basemetering device 20 is adapted to be the primary source to collect allin-home viewing data and the portable metering device 22 is used as theprimary source to collect all out-of-home viewing data. In yet anotherembodiment, the base metering device 20 may meter all in-home viewing,and the portable metering device 22 may meter all in-home andout-of-home viewing and duplicate viewing data sets collected forin-home viewing may be compared and processed to ensure that such datais credited to reflect only a single viewing. The redundant sets of datamay also be used to identify discrepancies between the data and toeliminate data believed to be erroneous. In a still further embodiment,the audience measurement system 18 may be configured such that the basemetering device 20 is able to detect the presence and absence of theportable metering device 22 and to use such information to determinewhether metering is necessary. For example, if the base metering device20 determines that the television 14 is turned on but there is noportable metering device 22 located in the viewing area then the basemetering device 20 may begin metering the programming being displayed onthe television 14. Conversely, if the base metering device 20 detects aportable metering device 22 in the viewing area 30, then the basemetering device 20 may halt monitoring.

In another embodiment, if the base metering device 20 detects a portablemetering device 22 in the viewing area 30, then the base metering device20 may halt monitoring and begin emitting a signal detectable by anyportable metering devices 22 located in the viewing area 30. Theportable metering devices 22 may respond to the signal emitted by thebase metering device 20 by causing the subsequently collected data to beidentified as in-home viewing data thus allowing data collected via theportable metering devices 22 in connection with in-home viewing to bedistinguishable from data collected by the portable metering devices 22in connection with out-of-home viewing. The portable metering devices 22may continue to identify data collected as being in-home viewing datauntil the signal is no longer detected by the portable metering devices22, i.e., one of the portable metering devices 22 has been removed fromthe viewing area 30. Or, the base metering device 20 may emit the signalonly periodically and the portable metering devices 22 may be adapted toidentify data that is subsequently collected over a predefined timeperiod as being associated with in-home viewing, wherein the predefinedtime period is related to the periodicity at which the base meteringdevice 20 emits the signal.

In another embodiment, the base metering device 20 may be replaced witha device that does not perform any metering functions but is onlycapable of generating a signal to be received by portable meteringdevices 22 located in the viewing area 30. These signal generatingdevices may be adapted to generate signals for capture by portablemetering devices 22 located in the viewing area 30, and the portablemetering devices 22 may be adapted to use the signals to identify datathat is collected in connection with in-home viewing. Of course, in suchan embodiment, the portable metering devices 22 are the sole meteringdevices and, therefore, the household members' willingness to carry theportable devices assigned to them is critical to the accuracy andcompleteness of the data collected thereby.

In a yet further embodiment, the audience measurement system 18 may beadapted to include an audience change detector 26, such as thatdisclosed in PCT Patent Application Serial No. PCT/US02/39619 which isincorporated by reference herein, for identifying the number ofhousehold members 34 located in the viewing area 30. The audience changedetector 26 may communicate this number to the base metering device 20which may then compare that number to the number of portable meteringdevices 22 detected by the base metering device 20. If the number ofdetected portable metering devices 22 matches the number of householdmembers 34 located in the viewing area 30, then the base metering device20 need not meter the viewing because the viewing will be captured bythe portable metering devices 22. If, instead, the numbers do not agree,then one or more household members 34 may not be carrying their assignedportable metering device 22, and the base metering device 20 may beadapted to meter the viewing to ensure capture of the viewing data.

The base metering device 20 may be adapted to detect the presence of oneor more of the portable metering devices 22 in the viewing area 30through the use of a short range signal transmitter/receiver disposed inthe base metering device 20 and a short range signaltransmitter/receiver disposed in the portable metering device 22. Theshort range signals transmitted between the base metering device 20 andthe portable metering device 22 may be, for example, infrared signals,and may be adapted to provide information that identifies the householdmember 34 assigned to carry the portable metering device 22 and theshort range signals may further be adapted to provide information aboutwhether the short range signal originated from a portable meteringdevice 22 or originated from a short range signal transmitter associatedwith, for example, one of the identification tags 24 to be worn by oneor more of the household members 34. Such identification tags 24 may beadapted to be embedded in jewelry, watches, clothing, etc. to decreasethe likelihood that the household member 34 assigned to theidentification tag 24 is opposed to wearing the identification tag 24and may be especially useful for viewers who do not wish to carry theportable metering device 22 while in the home 32 or for householdmembers 34, such as small children, who are not well suited for reliablycarrying a portable metering device 22. The identification tags 24 mayalso be adapted to generate signals that provide the identity of thehousehold member 34 assigned to wear the identification tag 24 as wellas the type of device, i.e., a portable metering device 22 or anidentification tag 24, from which the signals originated. The basemetering device 20 may be adapted to respond to a short range signalemitted by a portable metering device 22 differently from a short rangesignal emitted by an identification tag 24. Further, the identificationtag 24 does not have metering capabilities. Therefore, the detection ofa signal emitted by the identification tag 24 will not eliminate theneed for the base metering device 20 to meter viewing. In contrast, theportable metering device 22 does have metering capabilities such thatthe base metering device 20 may be configured to respond to a signaltransmitted by a portable metering device 22 by altering its meteringprocedure, i.e., the base metering device 20 may stop metering and/ormay emit a signal for capture by the portable metering device 22 asdescribed above.

The use of both identification tags 24 and portable metering devices 22that are detectable by the base metering device 20 allows the householdmembers 34 a greater range of flexibility in terms of complying with therequirements of the audience measurement research company. In addition,the use of detectable identification tags 24 and portable meteringdevices 22 enables the audience measurement system 18 to more accuratelyidentify the members of the viewing audience even when such members arenot complying with the research requirements. For example, in a furtherembodiment, the audience measurement system 18 may be configured suchthat the base metering device 20 is adapted to use information collectedfrom the identification tags 24 located in the viewing area 30, from theportable metering devices 22 located in the viewing area 30, and fromthe audience change detector 26 to deduce the identities of householdmembers 34 located in the viewing area 30 who are not carrying aportable metering device 22 and who are not wearing an identificationtag 24. In such an embodiment, the base metering device 20 may comparethe number of household members 34 detected in the viewing area 30 usingthe audience change detector 26 and may compare this number to thenumber of people identified via signals received from identificationtags 24 and from portable metering devices 22. If these numbers are thesame, then no deduction is necessary as the base metering device 20 canidentify each household member 34 using the signals generated by theidentification tags 24 and the portable metering devices 22.

If, instead, the number of household members 34 identified in theviewing area 30 by the audience change detector 26 is greater than thenumber of household members 34 identified in the viewing area 30 usingthe signals generated by identification tags 24 and the portablemetering devices 22, then the base metering device 20 may determine thenumber of household members 34 present in the viewing area 30 who arenot associated with an identification tag 24 or a portable meteringdevice 22 and may use a master list of household members 34 to identifyhousehold members 34 for whom an identification tag 24 signal or aportable metering device 22 signal has not been received. For example,if the household 32 has two adults and a single child, the audiencechange detector 26 identifies three people in the viewing area 30, andthe signals originating from the identification tags 24 indicate thattwo of the viewers located in the viewing area 30 are the adults, thenthe base metering device 20 identifies the unidentified household member34 as the child who lives in the household 32. If, instead, two adultsand two children live in the metered household 32, and if the signalsoriginating from the identification tags 24 indicate that two of thehousehold members 34 located in the viewing area 30 are the adults, thenthe base metering device 20 identifies the unidentified household member34 as one of the two children living in the household 32. If theaudience change detector 26 detects four people in the viewing area 30of a household 32 only having three members 34, then the base meteringdevice 20 may assume that a visitor is present in the viewing area 30.

In yet another embodiment, the audience measurement system 18 mayinclude a people meter 28 disposed in the viewing area 30, preferablywithin comfortable reach of the household members 34, and having a setof buttons (not shown) disposed thereon. Each button may be assigned torepresent a single, different one of the household members 34 residingwithin the household 32. The people meter 28 may be adapted toperiodically prompt the household members 34, via a set of LEDs, adisplay screen, and/or an audible tone, to indicate that they arepresent in the viewing area 30 by pressing their assigned button. Todecrease the number of prompts, and thus the number of intrusionsimposed upon the household members' 34 television watching experience,the base metering device 20 may be adapted to cause the people meter 28to prompt only when unidentified household members 34 are located in theviewing area 30 and/or to prompt only the unidentified viewers 34 asdetermined by a process of elimination performed by the base meteringdevice 20 using information received from identification tags 24 and/orportable metering devices 22 located in the viewing area 30. Forexample, if the base metering device 20 uses the audience changedetector 26 to detect that two household members 34 are located in theviewing area 30, but an identification signal has only been receivedfrom the identification tag 24 assigned to the male, adult householdmember 34, then the base metering device 20 may cause the people meter28 to prompt only the female, adult household member 34 and the childhousehold member 34 in an attempt to identify the unidentified householdmember 34. If a response to the prompt is received, then the basemetering device 20 may use the response to identify the additionalviewer and to associate this identity with collected viewing data. If noresponse is received, then the base metering device 20 may assume that avisitor is present in the viewing area 30 and may credit the viewingaccordingly.

The people meter 28 may be implemented as a stand alone device that iscommunicatively coupled to the base metering device 20 or as an integralpart of the base metering device 20. In one embodiment, the people meter28 may be implemented as an integral part of the remote control device16. In another embodiment, the people meter 28 may be implemented usinga PDA or a cellular telephone that is kept within comfortable arms reachof the viewers located in the viewing area 30. In such an embodiment,the PDA or portable telephone may be adapted to include all of thecomponents disposed, in or associated with, the portable metering device22 except for the television audience measurement circuitry. Further thePDA-based or portable phone-based people meter 28 may be programmed toperform any of a variety of well-known people prompting routines.Because people meters are well-known in the art and may be implementedusing any of a variety of well-known configurations further detailregarding an implementation of the people meter 28 is not providedherein.

Referring now to FIG. 2, in one embodiment, the base metering device 20may be equipped with a processor 50 which executes a set of instructions52 stored in a memory 54 to control the operation of the base meteringdevice 20 in a manner that enables the functionality described herein.The program or the set of operating instructions 52 may be embodied in acomputer-readable medium such as a programmable gate array, anapplication specific integrated circuit (ASIC), an erasable programmableread only memory (EPROM), a read only memory (ROM), a random accessmemory (RAM), a magnetic media, an optical media and/or any othersuitable type of medium. The base metering device 20 may also beequipped with a first communication interface 56 that allowscommunication between the base metering device 20 and the remotelylocated central data collection facility 42 via the network 44, a secondcommunication interface 58 that enables the transfer of viewing databetween the base metering device 20 and the portable metering device 22,a third communication interface 60 that enables the communication ofidentification information between the base metering device 20 and theportable metering device 22, one or more sensors 62 for detectingsignals being emitted by the television 14 and any circuitry 64necessary to perform one or more methods of television audiencemeasurement. Of course, the communication interfaces 56, 58, and 60 areoptional in nature.

As will be appreciated by persons of ordinary skill in the art, thereare a variety of well-known ways to configure the sensors 62 andcircuitry 64 to enable television audience measurement. Any givenconfiguration will depend on the method of television audiencemeasurement being employed. As a result, further detail regarding thiscircuitry is not provided herein. Moreover, although the televisionaudience measurement circuitry 64 is shown in FIG. 2 as a separatecomponent for the base metering device 20, the circuitry 64 may beintegral with any of the other base metering device 20 components suchas the processor 50 and memory 54. The first communication interface 56may be implemented using any, conventional communication interfacecapable of enabling communication with the central data collectionfacility 42 via the network 44 including for example, an Ethernet card,a digital subscriber line, a coaxial cable, or any wireless connection.The second and third communication interfaces 58, 60 enablecommunication between the base metering device 20 and the portablemetering device 22, and in one embodiment, may be implemented in asingle communication interface. The second communication interface 58enables transfer of viewing data between the base metering device 20 andthe portable metering device 22. In most cases, the data transfer mayoccur regardless of proximity between the base metering device 20 andthe portable metering device 22 such that the second communicationinterface 58 may allow wireless communication between the devices 20, 22where remotely situated relative to each other. The primary reason forviewing data transfer between the devices 20, 22 will be for the purposeof consolidating household viewing data before the data is transmittedto the central data collection facility 42. If desired, each basemetering device 20 and portable metering device 22 may be adapted toseparately communicate viewing data to the central data collectionfacility 42 such that viewing data transfer between the base meteringdevice 20 and the portable metering device 22 need not occur, therebyeliminating the need for the second communication interface 58. Thethird communication interface 60 enables short range communicationbetween the base metering device 20 and the portable metering device 22and is configured to allow such communication only when the basemetering device 20 and the portable metering device 22 are within apredefined distance of each other. By limiting communication ofidentification signals to a predefined distance, the third communicationinterface 60 to enables the detection of a portable metering device 22by the base metering device 20, only when the portable metering device22 is within the viewing area, provided, of course, that the predefineddistance is shorter then the farthest distance a household member 34 canbe located from the base metering device 20 and still be located in theviewing area 30. As a result, the base metering device 20 will noterroneously count a household member as being a viewer, i.e., located inthe viewing area 30, when the household member 34 is in fact, locatedoutside of the viewing area 30. The base metering device 20 mayadditionally include a user interface 66 by which the household member34 may inform the base metering device 20 of their identities and bywhich the household members 34 may enter demographic information aboutthemselves including, for example, age, race, sex, household income,etc. The processor 50 causes the identities of each household member 34and each household member's 34 corresponding demographic information tobe stored in the memory 54. This information may subsequently betransmitted by the base metering device 20 to the central datacollection facility 42. Alternatively, the remote control device 16 maybe adapted to accept the input of this identity and demographicinformation and to transmit this information to the base metering device20 for storage therein. In yet another embodiment, the portable meteringdevice 22 may include a user interface at which the user may enter thisidentity and demographic information as described in detail below. Theinformation may subsequently be transmitted by the portable meteringdevice 22 to the base metering device 20 or by the portable meteringdevice 22 to the central data collection facility 42.

Referring now to FIG. 3, in one embodiment, the portable metering device22 may be equipped with a processor 70 which executes a set ofinstructions 72 stored in a memory 74 to control the operation of theportable metering device 22 in a manner that enables the functionalitydescribed herein. The program or the set of operating instructions 72may be embodied in a computer-readable medium such as a programmablegate array, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), anerasable programmable read only memory (EPROM), a read only memory(ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a magnetic media, an optical mediaand/or any other suitable type of medium. Preferably, the processor 70is capable of integer based numerical processing instead of floatingpoint processing.

The portable metering device 22 may also include a first communicationinterface 76 that allows communication between the portable meteringdevice 22 and the remotely located central data collection facility 42,a second communication interface 78 that enables the transfer of viewingdata between the base metering device 20 and the portable meteringdevice 22, a third communication interface 80 that enables thecommunication of identification information between the base meteringdevice 20 and the portable metering device 22, a display 86, a userinterface 88, one or more sensors 90 for detecting signals being emittedby the television 14 and any circuitry 92 necessary to perform any ofthe methods of television audience measurement that involve capturingand processing audio codes and/or audio signatures from an audio signalemanating from the television 14. One or more of the communicationinterfaces 76, 78, and 80 are optional.

As will be appreciated by persons of ordinary skill in the art, there avariety of well-known ways to configure circuitry 92 to enabletelevision audience measurement methods that involve capture andprocessing of audio codes and/or audio signatures. As a result, furtherdetail regarding such circuitry is not provided herein. In addition, thememory 74 may be supplemented with one or more storage cards (not shown)in which data may be temporarily stored, or cached, before the databeing transmitted by one or more of the communication interfaces 76, 78,80 to thereby compensate for any bandwidth limitations associated withthe communication capabilities of the portable metering device 22.

The display 86 is operatively coupled to the processor 70 and may beimplemented using a light emitting diode (LED) display, a liquid crystaldisplay (LCD), or any other suitable display configured to presentvisual information, such as data indicating the operation of theprocessor 70. For example, the display 86 may indicate that the viewer34 logged in, and/or may identify the programming content carried by thechannel selected by the viewer 34 via the remote control device 16.

The user interface 88 may be used by the household member 34 to enterdata and commands into the processor 70. For example, the user interface88 may be implemented using a keyboard, a mouse, a track pad, a trackball, and/or a voice recognition system. Although the display 86 and theuser interface 88 are shown as separate components, the display 86 andthe user interface 88 may instead be integrated into a single componentsuch as, but not limited to, a touch-sensitive display configured toenable interaction between the household member 34 and the portablemetering device 22.

Of course, if the portable metering device 22 is implemented using aportable cellular telephone, then the portable metering device 22 willadditionally include the components associated with a conventionalcellular telephone. Moreover, one or more of the conventional cellulartelephone components may be adapted to perform one or more of thefunctions performed by the processor 70, instructions 72, memory 74,and/or the first, second or third communication interfaces 76, 78, 80,such that one or more of the foregoing components may be eliminated fromthe portable metering device 22. Likewise, if the portable meteringdevice 22 is implemented using a PDA or a hand-held computer, then theportable metering device 22 will additionally include the componentsassociated with conventional PDA or hand-held computer. Moreover, one ormore of the components of a conventional PDA and/or hand-held computermay be adapted to perform one or more of the functions performed by theprocessor 70, instructions 72, memory 74, first, second or thirdcommunication interfaces 76, 78, 80, such that one or more of theforegoing components may be eliminated from the portable metering device22.

The portable metering device 22 may additionally include an electroniccompass (not shown) configured to indicate a change of orientation bythe portable metering device 22. If the electronic compass indicates nochange in orientation, then the portable metering device 22 is beingcarried by the household member in a manner that is preventing theportable metering device 22 from communicating with the base meteringdevice 20. To prompt the household member 34 carrying the portablemetering device 22 to change the manner or position in which theportable metering device 22 is being carried, the portable meteringdevice 22 may emit an audio signal, display a visual signal, and/orvibrate to which the household member 34 may respond by positioning theportable metering device 22 in a manner that allows communication withthe base metering device 20 so that the base metering device 20 may, forexample, detect the presence of the portable metering device 22 withinthe viewing area 30.

Alternatively, one of the sensors 62, 90 in the base metering device 20and/or the portable metering device 22 may be implemented using amicrophone coupled to a voice recognition system (not shown) installedin the metering device and trained to recognize the voice of one or moreof the household members 34. When the household member 34 speaks withinthe sensing range of the microphone, the microphone collects the voicedata. The base metering device 20 may use the voice data to identify thehousehold member 34 who spoke as being located within the viewing area30. The portable metering device 22 may use the voice data toverify/confirm that the household member 34 assigned to carry theportable metering device 22 is at least within a distance of theportable metering device 22 equal to the pickup range of the microphone.

One of the sensors 90 disposed in the portable metering device 22 may beadapted to sense when the portable metering device 22 is in nearproximity to an operating television, i.e., a television 14 that isturned on, in accordance with the system disclosed in U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 10/125,577. For example, the sensor 90 may beimplemented using an audio sensor such as a condenser microphone, apiezoelectric microphone or any other suitable transducer configured toconvert acoustic waves into electrical signals. Further, the sensor 90may be configured to detect a 15.75 kilo-hertz (kHz) horizontal scanfly-back transformer sweep signal to determine whether a conventionaltelevision 14 is turned on or the sensor 90 may be configured to detecta sweep signal having a frequency of 31.50 kHz to detect whether ahigh-definition television (or other line-doubled television) is turnedon. Upon detecting such a frequency signal, the sensor 90 provides anindication to the processor 70 which may respond to the signal bycausing the circuitry 92 to collect viewing data. In the absence of anindication that the portable metering device 22 is in near proximity toan operating television 14, the portable metering device 22 may causethe circuitry 92 to stop collecting viewing data. The portable meteringdevice 22 includes such a sensor 90 because audio codes may travelthrough walls and be detectable by other sensors 90 associated with theaudience measurement circuitry 92 even when the portable metering device22 is not located in the viewing area 30. Thus, the indication providedby the sensor 90 prevents the portable metering device 22 fromcollecting audio codes that were generated by a television 14 located ina different room than the household member 34 carrying the portablemetering device 22 and that, therefore, are not associated with viewingperformed by the household member 34 carrying the portable meteringdevice 22.

Referring now to FIG. 4, the identification tag 24 includes acommunication interface 96 adapted to communicate with the thirdcommunication interface 60 disposed in the base metering device 20 andcontrolled by a controller 98. Further, the communication interface 96is coupled to a storage device 100. When the identification tag 24 comeswithin range of the third communication interface 60 disposed in thebase metering device 20, the identification tag 24 receives a signalrequesting identification information from the third communicationinterface 60 disposed in the base metering device 20. In response to therequest, the controller 98 causes an identification signal to betransmitted by the communication interface 96 to the base meteringdevice 20. As described above, the identification signal may identifythe household member 34 assigned to carry/wear the identification tag 24and may further identify the signal as having been generated by anidentification tag 24 (as opposed to a portable metering device 22).Alternatively, the identification tag 24 may be adapted to continuouslyor periodically generate a signal such that when the identification tag24 comes within range of the base metering device 20, the base meteringdevice 20 detects the signal and responds to the signal by emitting arequest for identification information. Or, the signal that iscontinuously or periodically emitted by the identification tag 24 mayinclude identity information such that the base metering device 20 needonly receive the signal without performing a request for additionalinformation. In one embodiment, the communication interface 96 may beadapted to transmit and receive information such that the communicationinterface 96 includes a receiver and a transmitter. In anotherembodiment, the identification tag 24 may only be adapted to transmitinformation and therefore the communication interface 96 may onlyinclude a transmitter. The devices used to implement the controller 98and the storage device 100 will depend on the type of communication tobe performed by the identification tag 24. Specifically, if theidentification tag 24 only transmits information, the complexity of thecontroller 98 will be reduced. Likewise, the amount of information to bestored in the storage device 100 will affect whether a static memory ora dynamic memory is required. Regardless though, of the level offunctionality embedded in the identification tag 24, any number ofconfigurations of the controller 98 and storage device 100 may beimplemented by persons of ordinary skill in the art, such that furtherdetail regarding such configurations is not provided herein. Thus, theidentification tag 24 allows the base metering device 20 to detect thepresence of the household member 34 carrying/wearing the identificationtag 24 when the household member 34 comes into the communication rangeof the base metering device 20 which preferably extends only as far asthe boundary of the viewing area 30.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 5, as described above, the portablemetering device 22 may be used as a primary source of viewing data andthe base metering device 20 may be used as a supplemental source ofviewing data. In such an embodiment, the portable metering device 22 mayadapted to perform a method represented by a set of blocks 102 that maybe implemented using the software instructions 72 stored in the memory74 and executed by the processor 70. Likewise, the base metering device20 may be adapted to perform a method represented by a set of blocks 104that may be implemented using software instructions 52 stored in thememory 54 and executed by the processor 50. The method 102 causes theportable metering device 22 to enable the operation of the audiencemeasurement circuitry 92 when the portable metering device 22 is withinthe viewing area 30 of any operating television 14 (blocks 106 and 108)regardless of whether the operating television 14 is located within thehousehold and to disable the audience measurement circuitry 92 when theportable metering device 22 is not within the viewing area 30 of anyoperating television (blocks 106 and 110). When the audience measurementcircuitry 92 is enabled, the portable metering device 22 collectsviewing data and when the audience measurement circuitry 92 is notenabled, no viewing data is collected. Thus, according to the set ofblocks 102, the portable metering device 22 collects viewing data forviewing performed via any operating television regardless of whether theviewing is associated with in-home or out-of-home viewing.

In contrast, the method 104 causes the base metering device 20 to onlycollect viewing data when the television 14 associated with the basemetering device 20 is operating and the base metering device 20 does notdetect a portable metering device 22 within the viewing area 30. Thebase metering device 20 detects whether the associated television 14 isoperating (block 112), and if the television 14 is operating, then thebase metering device 20 determines whether any signals have beendetected that indicate the presence of a portable metering device 22within the viewing area 30 (block 114). If a portable metering device 22is detected within the viewing area 30, then the base metering device 20determines the identity of the household member 34 associated with thedetected portable metering device 22 (block 116) and then causes thepeople meter 28 to prompt all other household members 34 to indicatewhether any of such members 34 are present in the viewing area 30 by,for example, depressing their assigned button (block 118). If one ormore of the household members 34 responds to the prompt (block 120),thereby indicating that the member(s) 34 is viewing the television 14,then the base metering device 20 enables the audience measurementcircuitry 64 thereby causing it to collect viewing data (block 122). Thebase metering device 20 may then continue to collect viewing data untilthere are no household members 34 located in viewing area 30 who are notcarrying a portable metering device 22 or until the television is turnedoff. The base metering device 20 may detect the continued presence ofthe household members 34 in the viewing area 30 by causing the peoplemeter 28 to continue to periodically prompt the household members 34 inaccordance with any well-known people meter prompting scheme, i.e.,periodically, after a channel change, etc. If, instead, no householdmembers 34 respond to the prompt, then the base metering device 20 neednot collect viewing data because the only household member 34 within theviewing area 30 is carrying a portable metering device 22 that isalready collecting viewing data in accordance with the method 102.Instead, the method 102 loops back to the block 118 and continues toprompt for other household members 34 who may subsequently enter theviewing area 30, provided, of course, that the television 14 is stilloperating (block 124). If the television stops operating, the method 102returns to the block 112. If at the block 114, no portable meteringdevices 22 are detected, then the method skips the block 116 andperforms block 118 to prompt all household members. Thus, the set ofblocks 104 cause the base metering device 20 to collect viewing dataonly if one or more household members are located within the viewingarea 30 but are not carrying a portable metering device 22. As will beappreciated by persons of ordinary skill in the art, the methods 102 and104 are performed independently; yet, allow the base metering device 20and portable metering device 22 to be used in a complementary manner sothat all in-home and out-of-home viewing is collected in a manner thatis convenient to the household members 34. The methods 102 and 104 areintended for use by an embodiment of the audience measurement system 18without identification tags 24.

The method of FIG. 5 may be modified to cause the base metering device20 to periodically or continuously emit a signal for reception by theportable metering device 22 located within the viewing area 30.Preferably, the signal uniquely identifies the base metering device 20that transmitted the signal. For example, the block 116 of FIG. 5 may bemodified such that in addition to identifying the household members 34associated with the portable metering devices 22 located in the viewingarea 30, the base metering device 20 also emits a signal that, whendetected by the portable metering devices 22 located in the viewing area30, causes the portable metering devices 22 to identify data collectedwhile located in the viewing area 30 as being in-home viewing data,i.e., data collected in connection with viewing that occurred in-home.The block 108 of the method 102 may be modified to cause the portablemetering device 22 to identify the viewing data as in-home viewing data.Thus, the methods 102 and 104 modified as described above cause viewingdata collected by the portable metering device 22 in connection within-home viewing to be identified as such. When this data is received,the central data collection facility 42 can distinguish between viewingdata collected in connection with in-home viewing and viewing datacollected in connection with out-of-home viewing.

Referring now to FIG. 6, the portable metering device 22 may be used asthe only source to meter viewing data and the base metering device 20may be replaced with a signal generating device. In such an embodiment,the portable metering device 22 may adapted to perform a methodrepresented by a set of blocks 126 that may be implemented using thesoftware instructions 72 stored in the memory 74 and executed by theprocessor 70. Likewise, the modified base metering device 20 may beadapted to perform a method represented by a set of blocks 128 that maybe implemented using the software instructions 52 stored in the memory54 and executed by the processor 50. The method 128 may begin at a block130 at which the modified base metering device 20 continuously orperiodically emits a signal for reception by any portable meteringdevices 22 located within the viewing area 30 of the television 14. Inanother embodiment, the modified base metering device 20 may be adaptedto only emit the in-home viewing signal in response to sensing one ormore portable metering devices 22 within the viewing area 30. Of course,in this embodiment, the modified base metering device 20 will includesignal sensing capabilities as well as signal generating capabilities.As will be appreciated by persons of ordinary skill in the art, eitherof these embodiments of the modified base metering device 20 need notinclude a processor and instructions but may instead be implementedusing, for example, a signal transmitter and receiver and a dataregister for holding data that uniquely identifies the modified basemetering device 20 and simple logic circuitry that causes the device tooperate according to the method 128.

The method 126 may begin at a block 132 at which the portable meteringdevice 22 determines whether it is located within the viewing area 30 ofan operating television. This may be performed using, for example,information supplied by one of the sensors 90 adapted to sense afrequency signal produced by a flyback transformer associated with thetelevision as described above. If the portable metering device 22 islocated within the viewing area of an operating television, then theaudience measurement circuitry 92 is enabled and begins collectingviewing data (block 134). In addition to enabling the audiencemeasurement circuitry 92, the portable metering device 22 determineswhether a signal generated by the modified base metering device 20 hasbeen detected, thereby indicating that the portable metering device 22is located within a viewing area 30 located in the home 32. If thesignal is detected, the viewing data collected by the portable meteringdevice 22 is identified as in-home viewing data (block 138). If no suchsignal is detected, then the viewing data collected by the portablemetering device 22 is identified as out-of-home viewing data (block140).

In another embodiment, the audience measurement system 18 may include abase metering device 20 adapted to collect viewing data for all in-homeviewing and a portable metering device 22 adapted to collect viewingdata for all in-home viewing and all out-of-home viewing. In such anembodiment, the portable metering device 22 may be adapted to perform amethod represented by a set of blocks 142 that may be implemented usingsoftware instructions 72 stored in the memory 74 and executed by theprocessor 70. Likewise, the base metering device 20 may be adapted toperform a method represented by a set of blocks 144 that may beimplemented using software instructions 52 stored in the memory 54 andexecuted by the processor 50. According to the method 142 shown in FIG.7, the portable metering device 22 collects viewing data whenever theportable metering device 22 is within the viewing area 30 of anoperating television 14 (blocks 146, 148). Using the method 144, thebase metering device 20 collects viewing data whenever the television 14associated with the base metering device 20 is operating (blocks 156,160). In addition, the base metering device 20 causes the people meter28 to perform any of a variety of prompting methods for causing thehousehold members 34 to provide information about their identities andabout whether the household members 34 are located within the viewingarea 30 (block 158). The sets of viewing data collected by the portablemetering device 22 and the base metering device 20 are both transportedto the central data collection facility 42 via any of the communicationinterfaces 56, 76 adapted to enable communication with the central datacollection facility 42 (blocks 152, 162). At the central data collectionfacility 42, the set of viewing data provided by the portable meteringdevice 22 and the set of viewing data provided by the portable meteringdevice 22 are compared and identified as being associated with a singleviewing event performed by a single person (blocks 166, 168). The datasets may also be compared to identify possible errors in the data (block170).

Alternatively, the methods 144 described above, may be performed suchthat instead of the base metering device 20 causing the people meter 28device to prompt household members 34 for information, the method 144may rely upon signals provided by the identification tags 24 carried bythe household members 34 located in the viewing area to identify thehousehold members 34. In such an embodiment, the base metering device 20receives information from all of the identification tags 24 located inthe viewing area 30. That information is then stored by the basemetering device 20 and used by the base metering device 20 to associatethe collected viewing data with the appropriate household member(s).

Referring now to FIG. 8, the base metering device 20 may be adapted todetermine when one or more household members are located in the viewingarea 30 but are not carrying either a portable metering device 22 or anidentification tag 24. Prior to performing the method, the base meteringdevice 20 obtains a signal from the audience change detector 26 fromwhich the base metering device 20 determines the number of householdmembers 34 located in the viewing area 30. In addition, the basemetering device 20 detects the number of portable metering devices 22and the number of identification tags 24 located in the viewing area 30.This information, once obtained by the base metering device 20, is usedas input for a method 172 that may begin at a block 174 at which thebase metering device 20 adds the total number of portable meteringdevices 22 located in the viewing area 30 to the total number ofidentification tags 24 located in the viewing area 30 to obtain a totalnumber of identified household members located in the viewing area(block 174). The total number of identified household members located inthe viewing area 30 is then subtracted from the number of householdmembers located in the viewing area 30 as determined from theinformation provided by the audience change detector 26 therebyresulting in a total number of unidentified household members located inthe viewing area (block 176). If the total number of unidentifiedhousehold members is equal to zero, determined at a block 178, then thebase metering device 20 need not perform any additional processingrelated to determining viewer identities as all viewer identities areknown from the signals received by the base metering device 20, theportable metering devices 22 and the identification tags 24. If,instead, the total number of unidentified household members is greaterthan zero, then the base metering device 20 may be adapted to inform thecentral data collection facility 42 of the number of unidentifiedhousehold members located in the viewing area 30, the time during whichthe unidentified household members were located in the viewing area 30,the programming that was displayed by the television 14 during theaforementioned time, and the identities of any household members notincluded among a list of household members identified by one of theidentification signals received by the base metering device 20 from oneof the portable metering devices 22 and/or identification tags 24 bylocated in the viewing area 30 (block 180).

In a further embodiment, the base and portable metering devices 20, 22may be configured to provide interactive feedback collected from aviewer of the media presentation to the central data collection facility42. For example, a product and/or service company may provide pollingqueries associated with an advertisement for that product and/or servicecompany to the central data collection facility 42 which in turn, maycommunicate the polling queries to the metering device (i.e., the basemetering device 20 and/or the portable metering device 22). The productand/or service company may upload the polling queries to the centralnetwork via the Internet and/or any other suitable connection. Inresponse to detection of the source identifier (SID) associated with theproduct and/or service company, the metering device may generate pollingqueries on the display. Information provided to the central datacollection facility 42 by the metering device may include responses ofthe viewer to queries generated by the metering device information usedby the viewer to change the settings of the metering device, orexpressions of like or dislike of a media presentation that the vieweris consuming in response to polling queries from the source of the mediapresentation. That is, a viewer of a television program may provide anopinion regarding the content of the television program. As a result,the metering device may transmit information associated with the viewerand the media presentation, and interactive feedback by the viewerassociated with the media presentation to the central data collectionfacility 42 for processing such data.

Referring to FIG. 9, the metering devices described above may operate inconjunction with each other to collect audience information associatedwith a media presentation. The example television system 500 of FIG. 9includes a television provider 510, a television 520, a base meteringdevice 530, and a portable metering device 535. The television serviceprovider 510 may be any television service provider such as, but notlimited to, a cable television service provider 512, a radio frequency(RF) television provider 514, and/or a satellite television serviceprovider 516. The television 520 may be any suitable televisionconfigured to emit an audio component and a video component of a mediapresentation such as, but not limited to, a program, an advertisement, avideo game, and/or a movie preview. The base metering device 530 may bethe metering device 20 shown in FIG. 2, and the portable metering device535 may be the metering device 22 shown in FIG. 3 (i.e., one of thecellular telephone, the PDA, or the handheld computer). The basemetering device 530 and the portable metering device 535 may be incommunication with each other via a first communication link 570 such asa hardwire link and/or a wireless link. For example, a docking station572 may be configured to hold and communicatively couple the portablemetering device 535 to the base metering device 530 via a universalserial bus (USB) port. Accordingly, the base metering device 530 and theportable metering device 535 may be in communication with each other.Further, the base metering device 530 may be in communication with acentral data collection facility 560 via a second communication link 575such as a hardwire link and/or a wireless link. The central datacollection facility 560 may include a server 580 and a database 590.

Example machine readable instructions which may be executed by the basemetering device 530 and the portable metering device 535 are representedin a flow chart in FIG. 10. In the illustrated example, the basemetering device 530 first detects a registration including informationassociated with a viewer 540 from the portable metering device 535, atuning device or a remote control device (e.g., one shown as 16 in FIG.1), and/or an optional identification device 544 (e.g., an ID tag or acellular telephone) (block 610). For example, the viewer 540 maymanually register with the base metering device 530 using either theportable metering device 535 or the tuning device. Alternatively, theviewer 540 may automatically register with the metering device 535 viathe identification device 544.

Upon receiving the registration, the base metering device 530 attemptsto detect a content identifier 550 associated with a media presentationas described above (block 620) and identify the content identifier 550(block 625). After a content identifier is detected and identified, thebase metering device 530 and/or the portable metering device 535 alertsthe viewer 540 to respond to polling queries (block 630). For example,the base metering device 530 and/or the portable metering device 535 maydraw the attention of the viewer 540 with an audio alert, a visualalert, and/or a vibrational alert. The visual alert may be an LED thatis green, red, blue, or any other suitable color. The visual alert mayalso be any suitable device that produces a visual signal to draw theattention of the viewer 540. The audio alert may be a piezoelectricdevice, a speaker, or any other suitable device that generates anaudible signal to draw the attention of the viewer 540. The vibrationalalert may be embodied in any well-known vibration devices such as thoseused in conventional cellular telephones and/or pagers. The basemetering device 530 and/or the portable metering device 535 may use anyor all of the visual alert, audio alert, and vibrational alert to drawthe attention of the viewer 540. When a media presentation requires aconsumer interaction, for example, the base metering device 530 and/orthe portable metering device 535 may prompt the viewer 540 to disconnectthe portable metering device 535 from the docking station 572. Theviewer 540 may then remove the portable metering device 535 from thedocking station 572 to respond to the polling queries. Accordingly, thebase metering device 530 and/or the portable metering device 535generates the polling queries on a display disposed in or otherwiseassociated with the base metering device 530 and/or the portablemetering device 535 (block 640). The portable metering device 535 mayreceive an input via a user interface (e.g., one shown as 88 in FIG. 3)in response to the polling queries (block 650).

The portable metering device 535 transmits response data associated withthe polling queries by the viewer 540 to the base metering device 530via the second communication link 575 (block 660). After receipt of theresponse data, the base metering device 530 communicates informationassociated with the viewer and the media presentation to a central datacollection facility 560 for collecting such data via the firstcommunication link 570 (block 670).

Another set of example machine readable instructions which may beexecuted by the base metering device 530 and the portable meteringdevice 535 are represented in a flow chart in FIG. 11. In theillustrated example, the television 520 broadcasts advertisements of aproduct and/or a service company, an organization, and/or any otherentities to a consumer (block 710). The television 520 also broadcastsan ad identifier such as the SID described above with each advertisement(block 720). For the example, a soft drink company may embed acorresponding SID in an advertisement for a soft drink produced by thecompany. Further, the company may upload queries such as, but notlimited to, survey questions associated with the advertisement to thecentral data collection facility 560 via the Internet. Then, the adidentifier and the queries are downloaded to the base metering device530 and/or the portable metering device 535 (block 730). Alternatively,the base metering device 530 and/or the portable metering device 535 mayretrieve such data from the central data collection facility 560. Thebase metering device 530 attempts to detect the ad identifier (block740). Based on the ad identifier, the base metering device 530 and/orthe portable metering device 535 identifies at least one survey questionassociated with the advertisement (block 750), and presents the at leastone survey question to the consumer (block 760). Of course, in thisembodiment, the base metering device 530 and/or portable metering device535 are programmed with information that the respective metering deviceuses to associate the ad identifier with the appropriate surveyquestion(s). Such information may be provided, for example, in adatabase format. Further, the base metering device 530 may be adapted toreceive the database 590 from the central data collection facility 560and to transmit the database 590 to the portable metering device 535 viathe docking station 572 or via a wireless communication link using oneor more of the appropriate communication interfaces installed in eachdevice.

The foregoing has described various configurations in which portablemetering device(s) may be used in conjunction with optional basemetering device(s). While such base metering devices may have theconfigurations described above, one or more portable metering devicesmay be configured to operate as base metering devices. For example,portable metering devices, such as may be implemented by cellulartelephones, PDAs, and the like, may be programmed to operate as basemetering devices that, while portable, remain in a home, business, orany other location in which a previously-described base metering devicemay be located. Using portable metering devices to implement basemetering devices is advantageous because portable metering devices arecompact and easily shipped to panelist homes. Additionally, due to theirsmall form factors, the portable metering devices may be easily placedat a location near, for example, a primary television that is viewed inthe household.

To implement a base metering device with a portable metering device, apanelist would be instructed to power the device from a sustainablepower supply, such as a wall outlet, via a transformer. The panelistcould also be instructed as to the physical placement of the device toensure proper reception of the signals used to measure media exposure.For example, the panelist may be instructed to locate the device toreceive audio from a television set. Either before or after the deviceis placed, the panelist would be instructed to activate the device.

Activation of the portable metering device may include the execution ofvarious routines that may include media monitoring routines that werepreviously downloaded. Alternatively, prior to first use of the deviceas a base metering device, device activation may include downloadingsoftware/firmware to implement metering functionality. As describedbelow in detail, the downloading of software/firmware may include, butis not limited to, downloading software via wired or wireless network.Additionally, downloading may involve downloading the desired softwareto an intermediate device, such as a personal computer, and subsequentlyporting the software to the portable metering device via a wired(universal serial bus, parallel bus, and/or Ethernet) or wirelessconnection (e.g., Bluetooth, 802.11x, etc.). In addition to the easewith which software/firmware may be downloaded (either directly orindirectly) to the portable metering device, software upgrades, patches,and/or fixes may also be downloaded to the portable metering device.

After the portable metering device is placed, activated, and outfittedwith metering software, the portable metering device may emit an audibletone and/or a vibration and/or a visual alert, etc. to indicate that theportable metering device is receiving valid audio codes from, forexample, a television proximate the location in which the portablemetering device is placed. Such indications, which provide the panelistfeedback confirming receipt of audio codes, indicate that the portablemetering device is properly placed with respect to the television (orother media device) being monitored.

As noted above, portable metering devices may be configured for use asbase metering devices to provide base metering functionality in a small,easily distributable, easily locatable package of a portable meteringdevice. As part of the process of configuring a portable metering devicefor use as a base metering device, the panelist downloads software orfirmware to the portable metering device. In addition to the meteringfunctionality provided by the firmware/software, the firmware/softwaremay disable the earpiece speaker of the portable metering device toprevent audio feedback that may corrupt data acquisition of the device.Additionally, the firmware/software may enable a high gain mode of themicrophone to enable speakerphone-like microphone properties, ratherthan normal, directional mode microphones conventionally used withdevices such as cellular telephones.

Many devices that may be configured to operate as portable meteringdevices used as a base metering devices include an interface(input/output (I/O) port) through which data may be passed. For example,cellular telephones include base plug I/O ports through which data maybe serially passed to provide programming information to the cellulartelephone. Additionally, devices such as PDAs likewise include suchinterfaces. In one example, the software/firmware downloaded to theportable metering devices may configure the I/O ports in the portablemetering device to accept metering data directly. For example, acellular telephone may be configured to accept incoming “raw” pulsecoded modulation (PCM) data through the I/O port and provide the same tothe metering software/firmware, thereby providing a hardwiredalternative to wireless audio detection via microphone.

As shown in FIG. 12, generally, a metering system 1200 may include ameter provider 1202, a portable unit 1204, and a content provider 1206.As further shown in FIG. 12, the metering system 1200 may include anetwork provider 1207 to provide wireless network access to the portableunit 1204 and/or a download station 1208 that is coupled to the portableunit 1204. In general, the meter provider 1202 imparts meteringfunctionality to the portable unit 1204, which, as described below, maybe implemented using a cellular telephone, a personal digital assistant(PDA), a pager, or any other portable device. The portable unit 1204 isthen able to meter information provided by the content provider. As willbe readily appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art, theinformation provided by the content provider may be television and/orradio signals and/or signals provided over any other communicationnetwork, such as the Internet. More generally, the information may beaudio, video, or data information. For example, audio codes embedded intelevision programming may be generated by a television when thetelevision processes the programming. Such codes may be captured by theportable unit 1204. Alternatively, the portable unit 1204 itself may beused to tune and view television programming, as well as have theability to monitor the television programming being tuned.

The metering provider 1202 may be, for example, a website hosted by aninformation gathering service, such as Nielsen Media Research or anyother like service. A service associated with the metering provider 1202contacts a potential panelist, such as the owner of the portable unit1204. The service may utilize the network provider 1207 to send arequest to the potential panelist to join the panel and receive acorresponding response in which the potential panelist may accept forreject the request. If the potential panelist opts to join the panel,then the network provider 1207, as described below, may automaticallydownload the appropriate metering software from, for example, a websitehosted by the meter provider 1202 to the portable unit 1204 (e.g.,“push”). Alternatively, the network provider 1207 may provide, forexample, a software download menu option by which the panelist, asdescribed below, may use the portable unit 1204 to request that themetering software be loaded onto and executed by the portable unit 1204(e.g., “pull”).

As noted above, the portable unit 1204 may be implemented using a PDA, acellular telephone, a pager, or any other known device. This device mayalready be owned by the panelist or may be provided to the panelist. Ifprovided, the panelist may or may not be allowed to use the device forits originally intended purpose as well as having it perform themetering function. As described above, the portable unit 1204 includesmemory and or memories into which metering software may be written. Thebehavior of the portable unit 1204 may then be modified through theexecution of the metering software so that in addition to theconventional functionality of the portable unit 1204 (e.g., PDAfeatures, telephone call processing, page reception, and the like), theportable unit 1204 will include content metering functionality includingsignature and/or code processing, prompting the audience member for avariety of purposes including: 1) Are you actively watching TV (or anysource of measured content) or just near it? 2) What is your subjectivepositive/negative response to the content to which you were justexposed? 3) What is your reaction positive/negative to the brand towhich you were just exposed? etc. All of these prompts are optional andmay or may not be included in the metering software.

As shown in FIG. 12, the metering software may be provided directly tothe portable unit 1204 via the network provider 1207. In thealternative, the metering software may be transferred to the downloadstation 1208, which may be implemented using a standard personalcomputer or other device able to display and/or receive information overa network connection 1209. In such an arrangement, the metering softwaremay be transferred from the meter provider 1202 to the download station1208 via an Internet connection 1209. As a further alternative, thepanelist may use the portable unit 1204 to request distribution of themetering software on media, such as a diskette 1210 or a compact disk1212. The panelist would, upon receipt of the media, use the downloadstation 1208 to transfer the metering software to the portable unit1204. The process of transferring the metering software to the portableunit 1204 may be performed using a hardwired (e.g., USB) connection.Alternatively, the transfer process may be performed in a similar mannerto the way in which ring tones or other features may be downloaded tocellular telephones.

A software download process 1300, which may be carried out by theportable unit 1204 or the download station 1208 to obtain software toexecute metering functionality is shown in FIG. 13. To obtain meteringsoftware, the panelist navigates to the software provider site (block1302) and manifests a desire to receive metering software (block 1304).As will be readily appreciated by those having ordinary skill in theart, the manifestation of the desire to receive metering software mayinclude logging into the software provider site, entering a code givenby the meter provider 1202 to the panelist, or any other manifestation.In addition, the panelist may provide various other pieces ofinformation to the meter provider 1202. For example, a panelist mayprovide demographic information, portable unit 1204 specifications,panelist name and address, etc. In addition, the panelist may beactively recruited via phone call, email, or other method of activelycontacting them. Alternatively, the panelist may volunteer at a website, physical location, etc.

After the panelist has manifest a desire (or ascent) to receive themeter software (block 1304), the panelist receives the meter software(block 1306). For example, the panelist may download the meter softwaredirectly to the portable unit 1204 or may download the meter software tothe download station 1208 for later uploading to the portable unit 1204.As a further alternative, the meter provider 1202 may ship media (e.g.,the diskette 1210 or the compact disk 1212) to the panelist who wouldthen input the same to the download station 1208.

Upon receipt of the metering software (block 1306), the panelistinstalls the same into the portable unit 1204 (block 1308). For example,if the software was downloaded to the portable unit 1204, the panelistmay command the portable unit 1204 to commence software installation.Alternatively, the panelist may use the download station 1208 to installthe metering software onto the portable unit 1204. Installation and/oractivation of the metering software may occur automatically afterdownloading it.

After the meter software has been received (block 1306) and installed(block 1308), the metering software is initialized and run by theportable unit 1204 (block 1310). After installation, the meteringsoftware may prompt the panelist to enter demographic information.Additionally, once operational, the metering software enables theportable unit 1204 to perform metering functions in addition to theconventional functions associated with the portable unit 1204. Themetering software may run for a limited period of time and thenautomatically uninstall itself, once the cooperation of this specificpanelist is no longer required. Alternatively, uninstallation may needto be done manually by the panelist when cooperation is no longerrequired or when they wish to no longer be a panelist.

As noted previously, an example process 1400 to contact a potentialpanelist, download metering software to a portable device (e.g., theportable unit 1204) used by the panelist and configure the meteringsoftware for execution on the portable device is shown in FIG. 14. Theexample process 1400 may be carried out by the metering provider 1202,the portable unit 1204, and/or the network provider 1207 of FIG. 12 andmay be executed on a periodic basis, when a new audience measurementstudy is commissioned, to fulfill a vacancy in an existing audiencemeasurement study, etc. The example process 1400 begins by contacting apanelist candidate and requesting that the candidate participate in anaudience measurement study (block 1402). As discussed below inconnection with FIG. 15, the panelist candidate may be contacted via aphone call, a text message, etc. and the candidate may respond to therequest also via a phone call, a text message, etc.

The process 1400 then determines whether an affirmative response wasreceived from the panelist candidate (block 1404). If an affirmativeresponse is not received (e.g., if the panelist does not respond orsends/provides a negative response declining to participate in thestudy) (block 1404), then the process 1400 ends. If, however, anaffirmative response is received (block 1404), then the process 1400adds the panelist to the study and authorizes the download of theappropriate metering software to the portable unit 1204 corresponding tothe new panelist (block 1406). This may include noting a telephonenumber or an Internet Protocol (IP) address of the portable unit used bythe panelist. An example process to implement the functionality of block1406 is shown in FIG. 16 and discussed in greater detail below. Theprocess 1400 then determines whether network-initiated download of themetering software to the portable unit 1204 is available and supportedby the portable unit 1204 and the network provider 1207 (block 1408). Insome circumstances, network-initiated software download may be preferredover user-initiated software download, for example, to minimize theamount of panelist effort required to download and configure themetering software on the portable unit 1204.

If network-initiated software download is available (block 1408), theprocess 1400 performs a network-initiated software download of theappropriate metering software to the portable unit 1204 used by thepanelist (block 1410). If, however, network-initiated software downloadis not available (block 1408), the process 1400 performs auser-initiated software download of the metering software to theportable unit 1204 (block 1412). Example processes to implement thefunctionality of block 1410 are shown in FIGS. 17-19. Additionally, anexample process to implement the functionality of 1412 is shown in FIG.20.

After processing at either block 1410 or block 1412 completes and themetering software is downloaded to the portable unit 1204, the process1400 then configures the metering software for execution on the portableunit 1204 (block 1414). An example process to implement thefunctionality of block 1414 is shown in FIG. 21 and discussed in greaterdetail below. The example process 1400 then ends. After installation,the metering software may prompt the panelist to enter demographicinformation. Additionally, once operational, the metering softwareenables the portable unit 1204 to perform metering functions in additionto the conventional functions associated with the portable unit 1204. Asnoted previously, the metering software may run for a limited period oftime and then automatically uninstall itself, once the cooperation ofthis specific panelist is no longer required. Alternatively,uninstallation may need to be done manually by the panelist whencooperation is no longer required or when they wish to no longer be apanelist.

An example process 1500 to contact a panelist candidate and request thatthe candidate participate in an audience measurement study is shown inFIG. 15. The example process 1500 may be used to implement thefunctionality of block 1402 of FIG. 14. The example process 1500 beginsby statistically generating a panelist candidate to be contacted forpossible inclusion in an audience measurement study (block 1502). Forexample, according to the type of portable unit 1204, the process 1500may generate a random phone number based on one or more area codesassigned to a particular cellular telephony service provider, a randomInternet Protocol (IP) address based on a network address or range ofaddresses assigned to a particular Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) serviceprovider, etc. The process 1500 then determines whether a text messageor a voice call should be used to contact the panelist candidate via theportable unit 1204 (block 1504). For example, such a determination maybe made based on the capabilities of the portable unit 1204, theexpected level of technical sophistication of the panelist candidate,the level of automation available to the process 1500 for communicatingwith panelist candidates, etc.

If the process 1500 determines that a voice call should be used (block1504), then a voice call is placed via the network provider 1207 to theportable unit 1204 corresponding to the panelist candidate determined atblock 1502 (block 1506). The voice call may include an automated messagerequesting that the recipient become a panelist in the audiencemeasurement study. The message may then prompt the recipient to indicateacceptance or rejection of the request and process the recipient'sresponse (block 1508). For example, the recipient may be prompted torespond via a touch-tone response by pressing a particular value of anumeric keypad included in the portable unit 1204. Additionally oralternatively, the recipient may be prompted to respond via voicerecognition by speaking a particular word or phrase. In either case,after the recipient's response is processed (block 1508), the exampleprocess 1500 ends.

If, however, the process 1500 determines that a text message should beused (block 1504), then a text message, such as an “instant message,” issent via the network provider 1207 to the portable unit 1204corresponding to the panelist candidate determined at block 1502 (block1510). For example, the text message may be sent via short messageservice (SMS), email, etc. The text message may request that therecipient become a panelist in the audience measurement study. Themessage may then prompt the recipient to accept the request by, forexample, replying directly to the text message, calling a toll-freephone number included in the text message, etc. If the recipientresponds via a text message (e.g., a direct reply to the text messagesent at block 1510) (block 1512), then the portable unit 1204 may sendthe text message via SMS, email, etc. (block 1514). The example process1500 then ends. If, however, the recipient responds via a phone call(block 1512), then the recipient may use the portable unit 1204 to placea phone call to the number provided in the text message sent at block1510 (block 1516). The phone call may be answered by an automatedanswering system again requesting that the respondent participate in theaudience measurement study. The answering system may then prompt theuser to accept or reject the request and process the respondent'sresponse (block 1508) as discussed above. The example process 1500 thenends.

An example process 1600 to add a panelist to an audience measurementstudy and authorize the download of appropriate metering software to aportable unit (e.g., the portable unit 1204) corresponding to the newpanelist is shown in FIG. 16. The example process 1600 may be used toimplement the functionality of block 1406 of FIG. 14. The exampleprocess 1600 begins by adding the panelist to the sample setcorresponding to the audience measurement study (block 1602). Forexample, the process 1600 may add the name of the candidate and otheridentifying information to an audience measurement study database.Additionally or alternatively, the process 1600 may add descriptiveinformation regarding the portable unit 1204 (e.g., phone number, IPaddress, device type, device capabilities, etc.) used by the panelist tothe audience measurement study database. The example process 1600 thenauthorizes the download of the appropriate metering software to theportable unit 1204 corresponding to the new panelist (block 1604). Forexample, this authorization may be performed by sending an authorizationmessage from the metering provider 1202 to the network provider 1207.The example process 1600 then ends.

An example process 1700 to perform a network-initiated download ofmetering software to a portable unit (e.g., the portable unit 1204) isshown in FIG. 17. The example process 1700 may be used to implement thefunctionality of block 1410 of FIG. 14. The example process 1700 beginsby directing the network provider 1207 to retrieve the metering softwarefrom the meter provider 1202 (e.g., by downloading the software from aserver, web-site, etc.) and prepare the metering software for downloadto the portable unit 1204 (e.g., by placing the software on a networkprovisioning server, gateway, etc.) (block 1702). The process 1700 thencauses the network provider 1207 to initiate a data transfer with theportable unit 1204 (e.g., via a push over-the-air (OTA) protocol such asOTA-WSP (Wireless Session Protocol), OTA-HTTP (Hyper Text TransferProtocol), etc.) (block 1704). The process 1700 then causes the networkprovider 1207 to download the metering software to the portable unit1204 (block 1706). After the download completes (block 1706), theprocess 1350 directs the network provider 1207 to store (cache) arequest for the panelist to install the metering software (block 1708).The request is stored (cached) until the portable unit 1204 enters anappropriate operating mode during which the software may be installed(such as a standby mode during which the portable unit 1204 is notperforming any other function, etc.). After the portable unit 1204enters such a mode (block 1708), the process 1700 may then causeapplication management software (AMS) executing on the portable unit1204 to prompt the panelist to install and/or execute the downloadedmetering software (block 1710). For example, a JAVA Application Manager(JAM) is an AMS that may be used if the metering software is a JAVAapplication. The example process 1700 then ends.

While the foregoing description included various techniques fortransferring metering software to a portable unit, one particularexample is now described in conjunction with FIGS. 18 and 19. Theexample of FIGS. 18 and 19 uses wireless communication capabilitiesprovided by an extensible data transport protocol, such as theExtensible Markup Language (XML). Further detail regarding extensibledata transport protocol communications may be found in InternationalApplication PCT/US2004/000818, filed Jan. 14, 2004, and entitled“Portable Measurement Architecture and Methods for Portable AudienceMeasurement,” the benefit of which is claimed and the contents of whichis expressly incorporated herein by reference.

Configurations such as those described in conjunction with FIGS. 18 and19 may operate based on the ability of infrastructure (e.g., basestations) and portable units (e.g., the portable unit 1204) to detecteach others presence when they are proximate one another. Afterdetection, the infrastructure and the portable units attempt tonegotiate communications. Of course, if a party is unrecognized (e.g.,the portable unit does not recognize the infrastructure), thecommunication may be refused (e.g., the portable unit may refuse tonegotiate communications with the infrastructure). As will be readilyappreciated, such systems may operate using any number of differentprotocols, such as Bluetooth, 802.11x, General Packet Radio Service(GPRS), code-division multiple-access (CDMA), infrared (IR), or thelike.

Such systems are advantageous for the distribution of meteringfunctionality to portable units, because as infrastructure for suchsystems become ubiquitous, it will be quite easy to distribute themetering software to a portable unit wherever that portable unit islocated. Furthermore, as described in the above-identified InternationalApplication, such communications systems and protocols provideconvenient means by which metering information (e.g., codes andsignatures associated with media) acquired by a portable unit may bedistributed back to a facility that processes such information.

Turning now to FIG. 18, an example network-initiated download process1800, which may be performed by one or more infrastructure stations, isshown. Of course, the operations of one or more infrastructure stationsmay be coordinated so that the network acts as one unit having multipleaccess points defined by the infrastructure locations. The process 1800is one manner in which the block 1410 of FIG. 14 may be implemented. Theprocess 1800 begins by searching for candidate portable units (block1802). A candidate unit may be any portable unit identified forreception of metering software. For example, any portable unitidentified at block 1406 of FIG. 14 may be referred to as a candidateportable unit. The search may be a coordinated search in which thenetwork is aware of each candidate portable unit and uses multipleinfrastructure locations of the network to scan for candidate portableunits.

If no candidate portable unit is detected (block 1802), the process 1800continues to scan for candidates. When a candidate portable unit isfound (block 1802), the network attempts to establish a wirelesscommunication link with the candidate portable unit (block 1804). Forexample, the infrastructure location or node that identified thepresence of the candidate portable unit may attempt to establishwireless communications with the candidate unit. Of course, as notedabove and as described in conjunction with FIG. 19 below, the candidateportable unit may refuse the link from the network (block 1806), inwhich case the process 1800 returns to scanning.

If the link is accepted (block 1806), the process 1800 retrieves themetering software, which may be stored local to the network or may bestored at another location, such as that of the meter provider (e.g.,the meter provider 1202 of FIG. 12) (block 1808). For example, themetering software may be stored in a non-volatile memory, such as a harddrive, an optical drive, or the like, so that the metering software isreadily available and latency is minimized. After the metering softwareis retrieved (block 1808), the metering software is transferred to thecandidate portable unit (block 1810) so that the candidate portable unitmay install and execute the metering software.

FIG. 19 shows a process 1900, which is a counterpart to the process1800, that may be executed by a candidate portable unit (e.g., theportable unit 1204 of FIG. 12). The portable unit, which, as notedabove, may be a PDA, a cellular telephone, a Bluetooth enabled device,or the like, receives an identity query from a network (block 1902). Onesource of the identity query may be the network and the infrastructuresearching for candidate portable units, such as those identified byblock 1406 of FIG. 14.

In response to the identity query (block 1902), the process 1900determines if the entity making the query is recognized (block 1904).For example, the process 1900 may refuse communication links from anyentity to which prior approval has not been granted by a user. Priorapproval may be received, for example, when a potential panelist wascontacted and indicated willingness to participate in the survey (blocks1402 and 1404 of FIG. 14). At such a point in time, the candidateportable unit may have stored an identifier of the entity that wouldlater contact the candidate portable unit to provide metering software.Alternatively, the panelist may be prompted via, for example, textmessaging, to acknowledge and accept the metering software. If theentity is not recognized (block 1904), the connection is refused (block1906) and the process 1900 ends.

Alternatively, if the entity is recognized and download of the meteringsoftware is deemed acceptable (block 1904), the process 1900 responds tothe query and establishes a wireless communication link with theinfrastructure (block 1908). Subsequently, the metering software isreceived (block 1910) and executed (block 1912) before the process 1900ends.

An example process 2000 to perform a user-initiated download of meteringsoftware to a portable unit (e.g., the portable unit 1204) is shown inFIG. 20. The example process 2000 may be used to implement thefunctionality of block 1412 of FIG. 14. The example process 2000 beginsby having the network provider 1207 enable the portable unit 1204 toaccess the metering software (block 2002). For example, the process 2000may direct the network provider 1207 to retrieve the metering softwarefrom the meter provider 1202 (e.g., by downloading the software from aserver, web-site, etc.) and prepare the metering software for downloadto the portable unit 1204 (e.g., by placing the software on a networkprovisioning server, gateway, etc.). The process 2000 then instructs thepanelist to use a Discovery Application (DA) executing on the portableunit 1204 (such as a Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) browser) toselect the metering software for download (block 2004). The process 2000then causes the portable unit 1204 to initiate a data transfer with thenetwork provider 1207 (e.g., via HTTP, WSP, etc.) (block 2006). Theprocess 2000 then causes the network provider 1207 to download themetering software to the portable unit 1204 (block 2008). The exampleprocess 2000 then ends.

An example process 2100 to configure metering software for execution ona portable unit (e.g., the portable unit 1204) is shown in FIG. 21. Theexample process 2100 may be used to implement the functionality of block1414 of FIG. 14. The example process 2100 begins by directing the AMSexecuting on the portable unit 1204 to install the metering software(block 2102). The metering software is then initialized and executed bythe portable unit 1204 (block 2104), for example, in response to acommand by the panelist operating the portable unit 1204, as a result ofautomatic activation through use of a push registry in the AMS, etc. Theexample process 2100 then ends.

A portable meter process 2200 as shown in FIGS. 22A and 22B,collectively FIG. 22, represents instructions that may be implemented bythe portable unit 1204 once the metering software in downloaded thereto.The process 2200 may be executed periodically or may be driven by theoccurrence of one or more particular events. The process 2200 begins bydetermining if the portable unit 1204 is being used for its nativepurpose (block 2202). For example, if the portable unit 1204 is acellular telephone, the process 2200 will determine if the panelist isin a telephone call or is performing some other function native to thecellular telephone. The execution of the process 2200 halts until theportable unit 1204 is not in use. One possible event that could driveactivation of the meter software is location determination. For example,if the meter is near to a known media source (TV in the home), it mayautomatically activate. This is only useful for in-home rather thanout-of-home measurement of exposure to media content.

When the portable unit 1204 is not in use (block 2202), the process 2200determines if the portable unit is plugged into a power supply or hassufficient/acceptable battery power (block 2204). If the portable unit1204 is not sufficiently powered (block 2204), it is determined if thebattery of the portable unit 1204 is almost dead (block 2206). If thebattery is almost dead (block 2206), the process stops execution.Alternatively, if the battery is almost dead (block 2206), the processmay sleep for period H and try again later. Conversely, if the batteryof the portable unit 1204 is not almost dead, the portable unit 1204sleeps for A seconds (block 2208). The magnitude of A seconds isaddressed below in reference to other time events. Overall, theobjective is not to drain the battery too far on the device so thepanelist can continue to use the device for its originally intendedpurpose.

If it is determined that the portable unit 1204 has sufficient power(block 2204), it is determined if it is time to deliver data (block2210). Data delivery time may be determined by the lapsing of a periodof time or by a data buffer or memory filling with data to be delivered.If it is time to deliver data (block 2210), it is determined if theportable unit 1204 is docked (block 2212). For example, the portableunit 1204 may be docked in a cradle that is coupled to the downloadstation 1208. If the portable unit 1204 is docked (block 2212), it isdetermined if the docked network is available (block 2214). For example,the docked network may be a network connection between the downloadstation 1208 and the meter provider 1202, if the meter provider 1202 isto receive the data stored within the portable unit 1204. Alternatively,the docked network could be a connection to another entity that is toreceive the stored information.

If the docked network is available (block 2214), the stored data is sent(block 2216) and the portable meter sleeps for B seconds (block 2218).Alternatively, if the device is not docked (block 2212) or the dockednetwork is not available (block 2214), it is determined if a wirelessnetwork is available (block 2220). If the wireless network is available(block 2220), the data is sent (block 2216) and the portable unit 1204sleeps for B seconds (block 2218). Alternatively, the portable unit 1204sleeps for C seconds (block 2222).

If it is not time to deliver data (block 2210), it is determined if theportable unit 1204 has space to store additional data (block 2224). Ifthere is no available space (block 2224), it is determined if the deviceis docked (block 2212) and the process 2200 proceeds from there asdescribed. Alternatively, if there is space to store data (block 2224),audio is collected (block 2226). Although audio is specificallymentioned, video or other data could be collected at block 2226. It isthen determined if audio is present (block 2228) by determining if audiois detected. If audio is not detected (block 2228), the portable unit1204 sleeps for D seconds (block 2230). If audio is detected (block2230), it is determined if the television is on (block 2232). If it isdetermined that the television is not on (block 2232), the portable unit1204 sleeps for D seconds (block 2230).

Alternatively, if it is determined that the television is on (block2232), it is determined if a code has been detected within the last Fseconds or not within G seconds (block 2234). If the test in block 2234is not satisfied, signatures of the audio, video, or date being receivedare generated (block 2236). Alternatively, if the test of block 2234does not fail, it is determined if an audio code is detected (block2238). If an audio code is not detected (block 2238), signatures aregenerated (block 2236). Alternatively, if an audio code is detected(block 2238), it is determined if the portable unit 1204 is plugged inor has high battery power (block 2240). If power is sufficient (block2240), signatures are generated (block 2236). Alternatively, there maybe an option mode in which signatures are generated even when codes aredetected.

After signatures have been generated (block 2236) or if it is determinedthat the portable unit is not plugged in or has sufficiently highbattery power (block 2240), the portable unit 1204 determines ifposition information is available (block 2242). The position informationmay be provided, for example, by land or satellite-based globalpositioning system transmitters. If position information is notavailable (block 2242), it is determined if emergency/911 locationinformation is available (block 2244). If either position information oremergency/911 position information is available, the location of theportable unit 1204 is determined 2246.

After either the location is determined (block 2246) or if theemergency/911 location is not available (block 2244), television on/offcodes, audio codes, signatures, and locations are stored (block 2248).After storage of the specified information (block 2248), the portableunit 1204 sleeps for E seconds (block 2250).

As noted above, various sleep times are specified in the process 2200.In general, the X may be referred to as the desired metering accuracy,which may be, for example, 60 seconds. If such an assumption is made,the values of A-F are defined as follows:

-   A=(X*5) seconds+configurable constant1-   B=0 seconds+configurable constant2-   C=X seconds+f(Remaining Battery Life)+configurable constant3-   D=X seconds+f(Remaining Battery Life)+configurable constant4-   E=X seconds+f(Remaining Battery Life)+configurable constant5-   F=X seconds+configurable constant6-   G=(X*5) seconds+configurable constant7, wherein f(Remaining Battery    Life) represents a variable that is a function of battery life.-   H=X seconds+f(Remaining Battery Life)+configurable constant8

The methods and apparatus disclosed herein are particularly well suitedfor use with a television. However, the teachings of the disclosure maybe applied to other electronic devices media presentation devices, suchas a personal computer, a radio, or any other device capable ofpresenting media programming, without departing from the scope or spiritthereof. In addition, although the audience measurement system describedherein is disclosed as being used to meter viewing of a televisionrelative to a viewing area located within a household, the system may beused to meter viewing that occurs at any location. Thus, the householdmembers described with respect to the household may instead be officeworkers and the system may be used to meter their viewing habitsrelative to an office.

Although certain example methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacturehave been described herein, the scope of coverage of this patent is notlimited thereto. On the contrary, this patent covers all methods,apparatus, and articles of manufacture fairly falling within the scopeof the appended claims either literally or under the doctrine ofequivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method to monitor a media presentation device,the method comprising: sensing a media content signal output by themedia presentation device using a portable device separate from themedia presentation device, the portable device supporting media meteringfunctionality and native functionality; detecting whether a code isencoded in the sensed media content signal using the portable device;and generating a signature from the sensed media content signal usingthe portable device when the portable device is electrically coupled toan external power supply or the portable device has at least a thresholdamount of local battery power, but not generating the signature when theportable device is not electrically coupled to the external power supplyand the portable device does not have at least the threshold amount oflocal battery power.
 2. A method as defined in claim 1 whereingenerating the signature occurs when the code is not detected in thesensed media content signal, but does not occur when the code isdetected in the sensed media content signal.
 3. A method as defined inclaim 1 wherein generating the signature occurs when no codes have beendetected for at least a first interval of time but not exceeding asecond interval of time longer than the first interval of time, andwherein generating the signature does not occur when either at least onecode has been detected within the first interval of time or no codeshave been detected for at least the second interval of time.
 4. A methodas defined in claim 1 wherein detecting whether the code is encoded inthe sensed media content signal and generating the signature areperformed when the portable device is not implementing the nativefunctionality, but are not performed when the portable device isimplementing the native functionality.
 5. A method as defined in claim 1wherein the portable device comprises at least one of a mobiletelephone, a personal digital assistant or a pager.
 6. A method asdefined in claim 1 wherein the portable device initially supports onlythe native functionality, and further comprising downloading mediametering software to the portable device to add the media meteringfunctionality.
 7. A method as defined in claim 1 further comprising:determining whether a data delivery time has passed; determining whetherthe portable device is connected to a docked network when the datadelivery time has passed; reporting at least one of the detected code orthe generated signature using the docked network when the data deliverytime has passed and the portable device is connected to the dockednetwork; and reporting at least one of the detected code or thegenerated signature using an available wireless network when the datadelivery time has passed and the portable device is not connected to thedocked network.
 8. A method as defined in claim 1 further comprising:processing a sensor output to determine whether the media presentationdevice is on or off, the sensor included in the portable device andconfigured to sense the media content signal output by the mediapresentation device, the sensor output corresponding to the sensed mediacontent signal when the media presentation device is on; operating theportable device in a sleep mode when no audio is detected in the sensoroutput or when audio is detected in the sensor output but the mediapresentation device is determined to be off, the portable device tooperate in the sleep mode for a duration of time depending on a meteringaccuracy and a remaining battery life determined for the portabledevice; and operating the portable device to at least one of detect thecode or generate the signature when audio is detected in the sensoroutput and the media presentation device is determined to be on.
 9. Atangible article of manufacture storing machine readable instructionswhich, when executed, cause a machine to: sense a media content signaloutput by a media presentation device using a portable device separatefrom the media presentation device, the portable device supporting mediametering functionality and native functionality; detect whether a codeis encoded in the sensed media content signal using the portable device;and generate a signature from the sensed media content signal using theportable device when the portable device is electrically coupled to anexternal power supply or the portable device has at least a thresholdamount of local battery power, but not generate the signature when theportable device is not electrically coupled to the external power supplyand the portable device does not have at least the threshold amount oflocal battery power.
 10. A tangible article of manufacture as defined inclaim 9 wherein the machine readable instructions, when executed, causethe machine to generate the signature when the code is not detected inthe sensed media content signal, but not when the code is detected inthe sensed media content signal.
 11. A tangible article of manufactureas defined in claim 9 wherein the machine readable instructions, whenexecuted, cause the machine to generate the signature when no codes havebeen detected for at least a first interval of time but not exceeding asecond interval of time longer than the first interval of time, but notwhen either at least one code has been detected within the firstinterval of time or no codes have been detected for at least the secondinterval of time.
 12. A tangible article of manufacture as defined inclaim 9 wherein the machine readable instructions, when executed, causethe machine to detect whether the code is encoded in the sensed mediacontent signal and generate the signature when the portable device isnot implementing the native functionality, but not when the portabledevice is implementing the native functionality.
 13. A tangible articleof manufacture as defined in claim 9 wherein the portable deviceinitially supports only the native functionality, and wherein themachine readable instructions, when executed, further cause the machineto download media metering software to the portable device to add themedia metering functionality.
 14. A tangible article of manufacture asdefined in claim 9 wherein the machine readable instructions, whenexecuted, further cause the machine to at least: process a sensor outputto determine whether the media presentation device is on or off, thesensor included in the portable device and configured to sense the mediacontent signal output by the media presentation device, the sensoroutput corresponding to the sensed media content signal when the mediapresentation device is on; operate the portable device in a sleep modewhen no audio is detected in the sensor output or when audio is detectedin the sensor output but the media presentation device is determined tobe off, the portable device to operate in the sleep mode for a durationof time depending on a metering accuracy and a remaining battery lifedetermined for the portable device; and operate the portable device toat least one of detect the code or generate the signature when audio isdetected in the sensor output and the media presentation device isdetermined to be on.
 15. A portable metering device comprising: a sensorto sense a media content signal output by a media presentation deviceseparate from the portable device; a processor to execute media meteringsoftware to implement a media meter and to execute native software toimplement native functionality; the media meter to: detect whether acode is encoded in the media content signal; and generate a signaturefrom the sensed media content signal when the portable device iselectrically coupled to an external power supply or the portable devicehas at least a threshold amount of local battery power, but to notgenerate the signature when the portable device is not electricallycoupled to the external power supply and the portable device does nothave at least the threshold amount of local battery power; and a memoryto store at least one of the detected code or the generated signature.16. A portable metering device as defined in claim 15 wherein the mediameter is to generate the signature when the code is not detected in themedia content signal, but not generate the signature when the code isdetected in the media content signal.
 17. A portable metering device asdefined in claim 15 wherein the media meter is to generate the signaturewhen no codes have been detected for at least a first interval of timebut not exceeding a second interval of time longer than the firstinterval of time, and to not generate the signature when either at leastone code has been detected within the first interval of time or no codeshave been detected for at least the second interval of time.
 18. Aportable metering device as defined in claim 15 further comprising aninterface to receive the media metering software from a server.